Besides fancy saris there are a good many takers for chiffon, Chanderi silk and embo silk saris. However, the elderly prefer to wear Ghadiali cotton. RASHMI REKHA DAS does some shop-hopping to catch the latest trends ahead of Durga puja
Dussehra is fast approaching and it is obviously too much to ask women to refrain from shopping saris till they drop. This is also the busiest time of the year at the leading sari shops in the Temple City.
There are discounts everywhere. At just about every showroom in the city shoppers can be spotted jostling for the salesman’s attention, sizing up the merchandise as he drapes it around himself with no inhibitions whatsoever. Sunday POST speaks to a few leading showroom proprietors and shoppers to ascertain the latest sari trends ahead of Durga puja.
Parshuram Pradhan, a salesman of Queen’s Collections, says, “There are infinite choices available in the form of fabrics, prices, colours and designs. You can get designer saris, embroidered, hand-woven or faux whereas fabrics range from crepe, lazer, silk, raw silk, rich silk, tissue, georgette, jacquard, net, brocade, nylon, chiffon, satin to art silk, organza, cotton, soft crush and cotton silk. Fancy saris are in demand.”
He, however, adds that the festive rush is yet to start and the business will pick up from October 10.
Hiranmayee Patnaik (36) who had come to the showroom to get a sari for her sister-in-law says, “Dussehra is silk sari time. I have made it a point to gift a silk sari to my mother and mother-in-law this year. I will visit the market day after tomorrow to buy saris for others and myself because today I have some work.”
Sital Narula, proprietor of Narula Showroom, says, “The festive fashion spirit is not limited to the well-heeled. The middle classes too have shops that cater to their needs and suit their pockets. Our shop offers a range of garments, which are both attractive and affordable. The customers do not hesitate to shell out money to buy quality products. We have a wide collection. Designer saris are latest in the market and young women in particular love to wear them. Embroidered saris are also in demand.”
Gous Mohammad who has been working for the past eight years as a salesman at Narula says women have a craze for fancy and silk saris. There are a good many takers for chiffon, Chanderi silk and embo silk saris. However, elderly women prefer to wear Ghadiali cotton saris.
Abhilash Mohanty, proprietor of Bindoo showroom, says fancy design saris and silk saris are in demand. He, however, adds that gone are the days when people used to flood markets with the advent of the festive season. The festive fervour is missing among people following the introduction of online shopping.
Gyanendra Kumar Send, a salesman at the showroom, says fancy and silk saris have caught the attention of many customers. Almost every woman visiting the showroom asks for fancy and silk saris.
In grip of the festive spirit shopping for eye-catching saris as well as matching jewellery and other accessories is on the priority list of every woman.
